How to Make a Healthy Pizza

In the mood for a quick pizza, but looking to ditch the excess calories and 'empty wallet' syndrome that comes with buying takeout pizza? Then try cooking this healthy pizza. This recipe so cheap and easy to make, you'll never go back to takeout pizza. Per one-slice serving, this pizza costs less than half a dollar and is around 100 calories. This pizza is proof that eating healthy tastes delicious!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• sliced bread
• pasta or pizza sauce
• grated cheese
• additional pizza toppings are optional
• toaster oven

1. Lightly toast a slice of bread (or however many slices you desire).
   
   The bread should feel slightly crusty, while still maintaining its original color. Lightly toasting the bread will help prevent the pizza sauce from creating a soggy homemade pizza. Eating healthy pizza should taste good!

2. Preheat your toaster oven.
   
   Turn the knob to the setting for toast. If you don't have a toaster oven, the broil setting on a conventional oven may be used. A preheated oven is an important step in making this healthy pizza.

3. Spread a thin layer of pasta or pizza sauce on the topside of each bread slice.
   
   If you like a saucier pizza, use a pasta or pizza sauce that has a thick texture or else you could end up with a soggy pizza. I personally like using a pasta sauce that has vegetable chunks in it. This way, I save time and money by not having to chop up my own vegetable toppings for the pizza. Vegetables (and even some fruits) are a great way to enhance the nutritional benefits of eating healthy pizza.

4. Sprinkle a moderate amount of grated cheese on top of the sauce (and any other topping you want on your homemade pizza).
   
   I suggest that you buy a block of pizza cheese (mozzarella is my favorite) and grate it yourself. Bagged, grated cheese is usually drier and can burn or become tough during the cooking process. Eating healthy does not have to mean rubbery food!

5. Put the sliced bread pizza on the toaster oven rack.
   
   Optionally, you can put the sliced bread pizza on an aluminum foil or other baking sheet. I find that using a baking sheet makes it easier to put in and take out this healthy pizza.

6. As for cooking time, it takes me five minutes on the toast setting.
   
   Using the toast setting gives the pizza bread a delicious crunch and browns the cheese nicely. Note that your cooking time might be a little less or more, depending on how crunchy and browned you like your healthy pizza.

Tips & Warnings

• Using an aluminum foil or baking sheet will eliminate messy drips on the bottom of the toaster oven.
• Top with pineapple chunks to add sweetness to your healthy pizza.
• Since cooking this pizza takes such a short amount of time, stay near the oven and check on it often when making it for the first time. Make note of how long the pizza took to cook and use this time for future reference.

Resources

• How to Make a Recipe Healthier
• Busy Parent's Guide to Healthy Meal Planning

[Susanh]

on 10/8/2008 Great recipe.

[01KendraWrites]

on 9/14/2008 Ahh, easy pizza is just my style. Thanks!

[vikki9]

on 9/13/2008 This is a great after-school, snack idea. Many thanks.

[Sondrac]

on 9/12/2008 Sounds good. Might try it for lunch. 5 stars